Now that the madness and celebrations have given way to the new year ahead, many holiday makers and tourists choose this time period to take leave from work and enjoy a little time away. Employers also often endorse this, so as to stagger employees’ leave over the festive season. So, if you’re one of the clever ones who have opted to take your leave after the year-end rush, well done!

There are numerous benefits to taking a holiday out of season. Firstly, accommodation is cheaper, as the “out of season” rates apply for most establishments. Secondly, there are fewer crowds, and less people visiting the common tourist attractions. Thirdly, establishments and entertainment providers are able to provide more personal care and attention to guests and patrons.

Taking a holiday out of season

Holiday makers who use this time of the year to take a vacation also benefit from more choice when it comes to accommodation, as most establishments will not be as fully booked as they are during the holidays.

Perhaps a quiet fishing trip with friends is your ideal vacation, or a family getaway to somewhere quiet before school begins for the kids? Whatever your choice, taking your holiday at this time of year has a number of positive elements to it. Further, and this is especially for the hard-working among us, whilst your workmates struggle to get back into the saddle, you are relaxing and readying yourself for the new year ahead, without being jostled around by the crowds.

So, if you’re the kind of person who prefers to avoid the holiday rush around, taking your holiday at this time of year is a great idea! Find a great place to stay by visiting CapeStay or read up about interesting regions to visit on CapeStayBlog.

Go ahead and relax, you deserve it!

The Overberg Eco-Expo aims to educate and enlighten individuals and businesses on the increasing number of eco-friendly products and services available to utilize. The Eco-Expo is an excellent medium to encourage people to become aware of the importance of preserving their environment for a more sustainable way of living and for a healthier planet. Held in Bredasdorp from 03 to 04 September 2010, the Eco-Expo will showcase environmentally friendly products and services and provide information that will help people to lead healthier and more sustainable lives. The goal of the Overberg Eco-Expo is to improve both the quality of our environment and the quality of our lives. The Overberg Eco-Expo will be a celebration with a serious purpose – to accelerate the emergence of an economy that is sustainable, healthy and earth friendly.

Held over two days, the Eco-Expo aims to improve the quality of our lives and our environment. Co-ordinated by the Southern Overberg Branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa, the exhibition will play host to a variety of exciting and useful products and services, all geared towards creating a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, both at home and at work.

The exhibition area will include sections on ‘greening’ your home and garden; alternative energy sources and recycling; conservation; organic agriculture; organic foodstuffs; eco-friendly art and lifestyle; health and wellness and finally, educating the youth about sustainability and the importance of conservation.

The Overberg Eco-Expo is a good opportunity to explore the Overberg region of the Western Cape.

Found just beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains, the area has always been considered as the breadbasket of the Cape, due to it’s vibrant grain farming industries. The wheat fields are a major breeding ground for South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane. The Overberg region is also known as the second largest supplier of fruit in South Africa.

The beautiful towns of Hermanus, Caledon and Swellendam can be found in the Overberg region. In these areas you will find a legion of cultural shops, bars and restaurants, beaches and outdoor adventure spots suitable for all sorts of tourists, visitors and holiday-makers.

The Overberg Eco-Expo aims to educate and inspire so, head on over to Bredasdorp and explore the gorgeous Overberg region of the Western Cape, whilst learning more about an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

The Tygervalley Bridal Expo 2010 will be held from 26 to 29 August 2010, at the Tygervalley Shopping Centre. Nearly 100 top-notch wedding service providers will showcase their services and products, all tailored towards making your dream wedding day become a reality. Wine tasting sessions and wedding invitation workshops are just some of the more hands-on activities, whilst everyone from photographers, designers and make-up artists will be on hand to help you make your wedding day fairytale come true. A dream wedding can also be won by a lucky couple, with prizes valued up to R22 0000. Visit the website for more information about this magnificent expo.

The annual Clanwilliam Flower Show will be presented by the Clanwilliam Wild Flower Association from 26 August to 01 September 2010. Nearly 400 species of gorgeous flowers from 38 flower families will be exhibited. The show includes concerts, art and food stalls and a street carnival. The Old Dutch Reformed Church in Clanwilliam will play host to a manmade landscape of flowers, and a special botanical division will display all the flowers with both their botanical and common names. For more information, call Clanwilliam Tourism on 027 4822024, or visit the website here.

Who said golf is just for men? The Franschhoek Women, Wine and Golf weekend is the perfect excuse to leave the men behind to care for the kids, and get away from some serious relaxation in beautiful Franschhoek. The golf day will see lucky participants enjoy a fun-filled weekend, be treated to divine goodie bags and a golf clinic. A cocktail evening will round off this brilliant day, so book your space now by calling Darielle on 021 876 2861 or emailing events@franschhoek.org.za.

The Tramonto Wedding Run brings with it Wine Tasting and South African superstars, Watershed. To be held at Tramonto in George, from 19 to 21 August 2010, this Wedding Run includes a showcasing of wines from Diemersfontein, Hartenberg, Backsberg and Raka, amongst others. A thank you Dinner will be held in the Cellar on Thursday night for winemakers, and Friday will be open for all existing and potential clients. Saturday’s grande finale is open to the public. A fun run/walk will start at 08h00, with participants able to choose between a 5 or 10 kilometre course. Watershed is scheduled to entertain participators and spectators after the prizegiving at 11am. For more information, call 044 870 7150

RMB WineX Cape Town blasts off it’s seventh annual fair at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 19 August 2010. Always the largest and most important premium consumer wine event in the Western Cape, RMB WineX will be raising an already elevated bar. Aiming for quality rather than quantity, the organisers have amended the show format cutting it back to a two evening event, instead of the usual three night rolling party. As before, WineX visitors can stock up on exhibitor wines at competitive prices via Shop@Show. For those too busy to make it to the wine farms, this facility offers a convenient one-stop-shop alternative and includes a delivery to your door. The annual Best Wines on Show ballot, with great prizes attached, adds to the fun of a wonderful wine evening in the city. WineX will be open daily from 5pm to 9pm, and you can book at Computicket.

The Encounters International Documentary Festival will be held at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront from 12 to 29 August 2010. The only South African film festival dedicated entirely to documentaries, this festival includes screenings, panel discussions and workshops for aspiring film-makers. Documentaries have the power to take audiences into other worlds, hold a mirror up to humanity and lift the veil on our perceptions of ourselves and others. This year, filmgoers will be offered an exceptional and varied selection of more than 50 films, including many award-winning titles.

The Baxter Dance Festival will dominate the Baxter Theatre from 25 to 29 August 2010. Five years since it’s inception, the Baxter Dance Festival aims to provide both emerging and established dance companies and choreographers with an opportunity to present their work. It is the perfect environment to experience and see work by established professionals, as well as exciting up-and-coming dance practitioners. For more information, visit the Baxter Theatre’s website or call 021 6857880.

The Cape Town Stadium was built especially for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. During the planning stage it was known as the Green Point Stadium, which was the name of the previous stadium on the site. The stadium is located in Green Point, between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean, close to the Cape Town city centre and to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The stadium has a capacity of nearly seventy thousand spectators, and is connected to the waterfront by a new road connection, Granger Bay Boulevard. The stadium is also surrounded by a 60-hectare urban park.

The Cape Town Stadium will play host to eight games of the World Cup.

Friday, 11 June 2010, saw the stadium host Uruguay vs France, with a 0-0 draw result. Italy tied with Paraguay at this majestic stadium on 14 June 2010, with a 1-1 result.

Cape Town Stadium will host the following games over the next few weeks:

Friday, 18 June 2010, will see England play against Algeria at 20h30, and Monday, 21 June 2010, will see Portugal vs the People’s Republic of Korea at 13h30. Cameroon vs the Netherlands will play at 20h30 on Thursday, 24 June 2010. With the Group Stage complete, Round of 16 will play at 20h30 on Tuesday, 29 June 2010, with a Quarter-final at 16h00 on Saturday, 03 July 2010. A semi-final will take place on Tuesday, 06 July 2010, at 20h30, with the other semi-final to be played in Durban. The Finals of the FIFA 2010 World Cup to be played at Soccer City in Johannesburg on 11 July 2010.

Cape Town, and South Africa at large, have so much to be proud of, with the achievements thus far in hosting this exciting event so, get out there and support Soccer Fever!

Now that Soccer Fever has truly hit our beautiful country, let’s celebrate! The Western Cape is abuzz with things to do, places to go and fabulous people to meet!

2010 sees Cape Town play host to the country’s biggest cultural extravaganza – The Global Icons Expo-tainment Experience. Come and experience the sights and sounds of the world as the Cape Town International Convention Centre’s Foreshore is transformed into a different nation every day. A month of world class entertainment, where reality and illusion merge to create an international experience, provide a once in a lifetime showcase of sights, sounds, flavours in one unique global village. No-one is left out – showcase your country to the world, celebrate as a VIP in the grand ballroom, entertain your VIP clients in a bespoke hospitality suite, bring your family for a day of fun, or as a soccer fan cheering the festivities of the most talked about tournament of the year. Join in the fun from 10 June 2010 to 11 July 2010, at the Foreshore.

Now in its second year, the annual Greyton Winter Festival on the weekend of 12 and 13 June. Five concerts by some of the country’s top classical musicians will be performed during this festival in the beautiful and quaint villages of Greyton and Genadendal. Apart from classical music concerts various art exhibitions are planned for this weekend, as well as wine tastings presented by top Overberg wine estates. Restaurants in the village will offer various winter dishes and meals prepared by celebrity chefs. For more information, contact Greyton Tourism on 028 254 9564, with tickets available from Computicket.

The Napier Patat Festival is an annual festival, kicking off this year with a live performance and dance by brothers Christopher and Kobus. Held in Napier over the weekend of 18 June 2010 to 20 June 2010, the festival includes a half-marathon, fun run and mountain bike race.  Napier HighSchool will be hosting the festival and an abundance of stalls will be open to tempt your tastebuds and quench your thirst. The Miss Napier and Mej Patatrantjie competitions will be held on the Saturday morning. After prize giving in the afternoon, festivities continue at the school, however the rest of the village comes alive for the remainder of the weekend, with open gardens, vintage cars, wine and beer tastings and much more. For more information on the festival, please call 028 423 3325.

The Greyton MTB Classic will be held on 19 June 2010. The 26km and 42km include cycling through vineyards, orchards, dirt roads, jeep tracks, singletrack and river crossings. Breathtaking views with spectacular climbs and fast descents. The 42km riders need to be quite fit, but it is not very technical. The 26km riders can expect to sweat – this is primarily the same route as last year’s 20km. Dont miss this event. It’s going to be great! Some route changes due to the extensive flood damage in 2007 has made this a even more stunning route with interesting and varied cycling. The 10km cycles on dirt roads, jeep tracks, some sand track and a river crossing.  Participants under 10 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please contact Angie on 083 566 5783.

The Fees van die Ganse (“Festival of the Geese”) will be held in Gansbaai, from 25 June 2010 to 27 June 2010. Attracting more than 10 000 visitors to Gansbaai, this festival celebrates the origins of Gansbaai, and remembers the wild geese that flocked to the freshwater spring located in the present day harbour. One of the highlights of this festival is the winter fynbos wildflower show. This rare display of unique local fynbos has enthralled many a casual visitor as well as serious fynbos fans. The Gansbaai family festival features a live music, a procession early on Saturday morning through the streets of Gansbaai with the famous “Kaapse Klopse”, boat trips to Dyer Island, a 4×4 adventure up Franskraal mountain, golf competition, several food and craft stalls, local soccer teams competing and a walk through the Masakhane community – truly something for everybody in the family. Take a helicopter ride over the beautiful Walker Bay or the less energetic can enjoy a beer in the tent at the harbour and watch the fishing boats return with their days catch. There are also helicopter rides over the beautiful Walker Bay and a whole bunch of kiddies entertainment. The less energetic can just enjoy a beer in the tent at the harbour and watch the fishing boats return before enjoying the spoils of their heaving nets. For more information, contact Gansbaai Tourism on 028 384 1439.

Christmas in Winter will be held in Tulbagh, from 26 June 2010 to 27 June 2010. The village will be decorated with Christmas lights and trees, and traditional Christmas dinners will be served at local restaurants.There will also be arts and crafts on sale, jazz bands to entertain you, as well as a ‘Rock with Santa’ party. Cheese, wine and olive tasting will beheld throughout the valley.  Contact Tulbagh Tourism on 023 2301 348 /75 for more information.

The magical and spellbinding Le Grand Cirque, Fantazie is coming to the Artscape Opera House after a sell-out season in Las Vegas, from 26 June 2010 to 10 July 2010.  Described by the press as ‘the next generation of Cirque du Soleil’, this electrifying production is a breathtaking and heart-pounding spectacle that will astound you, and take you to the edge of your seats. Featuring world-class acrobats, jugglers and gymnasts, handpicked from countries such as China, Russia, Mongolia and South America, these talented artists perform a visual feast of white-knuckle stunts and precision skill tricks.  Their skill and dedication has made this an award winning show seen by millions of people around the world. Le Grand Cirque, Fantazie is amazing entertainment for the whole family.  Call the Artscape Theatre on 021 421 7695 for more information. Tickets cost R100, R150, R225 or R325.

It’s not just the FIFA World Cup 2010 that will keep the Western Cape and all of South Africa abuzz this winter season. A multitude of other events and festivals will be happening around the Western Cape region during June 2010 too!

But, for the fans, the Cape Town FIFA Fan Fest will take place, daily, from 10am to 11pm, from 10 June to 11 July 2010.  Hosted at the Grand Parade, the 25413 sqm FIFA Fan Fest will serve as the city’s official entertainment hub for the duration of the soccer festival. All 64 World Cup matches will be screened on an enormous 74 sqm screen, first used by FIFA during the German World Cup. The screen is one of the biggest structures ever to be erected in South Africa.  In between watching soccer, visitors will be entertained by a dazzling laser light display, quality performances from talented locals and popular big-name artists such as Goldfish, Freshly Ground, the Rudimentals, Danny K, Jimmy Dludlu, the Guguletu Tenors and many more. Food and refreshment kiosks will offer a taste of traditional Cape Town with dishes such as Malay chicken curry, lamb neck poitje, boerewors rolls and fish gourjons, along with perennial favourites like prego rolls, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers and steaming hot soup.  Snacks, as well as hot and cold drinks will be on offer.  Wine and beer will be available for sale to visitors over the age of 18. The Grand Parade has a capacity for 25 000 and numbers will be strictly controlled by the private security, emergency services and SAPS forces on the ground.  To enter the Fan Fest, visitors will need to pass through security check points positioned in Darling Street and at the corner of Buitenkant and Longmarket Streets.  Children under the age of 14 will have to be accompanied by an adult and items of food, alcohol, weapons or drugs being brought into the Fan Fest will be confiscated. Visitors are encouraged to use the many park-and-ride facilities available throughout Cape Town.

Now taking place for the 7th year, the Wacky Wine Weekend will take place in Robertson from 03 to 06 June 2010. Robertson Wine Valley’s biggest annual wine festival, the Wacky Wine Weekend brings you fantastic offers at fantastic value. With the focus of the festival still placed on the responsible service of alcohol, Wacky Wine Weekend is committed to visitors having a good time, responsibly. The Zero Tolerance Policy, Designated Drivers Programme and Buddy Bus Service have been put together to ensure that your celebrations are safe. With nearly fifty participating wineries showcasing their wines, visitors can expect even more festivity and celebration! An abundance of key attractions await, with a mix of old favourites and new delights.

Stellenbosch is proud to host The Stellenbosch Winterfest on 06 June 2010, at the Paul Roos Centre. Enjoy German meals and other specialities, as well as wine, beer, coffee and cake. Music, family entertainment and crafts will also be on offer and, don’t let the children miss the lantern procession in the dusk! For more information, call 021 887 5030.

Ratanga Junction at Century City will host Africa Village by Women 2010 during June 2010. An annual cultural display representing Africa as a whole, will include an expo and wide range of proceedings, including gala dinners, executive breakfasts, music concerts, fashion shows and art exhibitions. Touted as the only cultural destination representing the African Continent, the Village promises to showcase inventions and innovations by African women during FIFA World Cup 2010 season.

The Vodacom Funny Festival will be held at the Baxter Theatre from 07 June 2010 to 11 July 2010.  The award-winning Vodacom Funny Festival showcases stand-up comedy from some of the best local and international performers. Cape Town’s favourite son, Marc Lottering, acts as the Master of Ceremonies with local acts Tumi Morake and Nik Rabinowitz and international acts from John Lenahan, Gamarjobat and The Raymond and Mr Timpkins Revue. There will also be a number of surprises during the show. Tickets cost R130, with special discounts for block bookings. Visit the Baxter Theatre website for more information.

A true feast awaits you at this year’s Winter Good Food and Wine Show, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 13 to 16 May 2010.  South Africa’s finest food, beverage and lifestyle exhibition will treat excited visitors to the most sensational line-up of international celebrity chefs. Gordon Ramsay will make his first ever public appearance in South Africa. Globally-renowned Patissier Eric Lanlard and an Indian cuisine legend, Anjum Anand will also appear, alongwith Italian supremo Giorgio Locatelli, and chocolate wizard Willie Harcourt-Cooze.

Not to be outdone, our finest South African chefs and celebrities will join in on the action in nine state-of-the-art kitchen theatres. From book-signings to hands-on workshops, this years Good Food and Wine Show has something for everyone, even the kids!

Nine different interactive theatres will include City Bites, a celebration of Cape Town’s exciting restaurant scene, which perfectly captures the variety of eateries in the Mother City. At the Celebrity Chefs Restaurant, diners will be able to eat from menus created by the celebrity chefs at the Show. In the Cocktails Theatre you can watch expert bartenders compete in the Regional as well as the National Classic and Flair competitions and learn to use their basic and advanced techniques and tricks.

Indulge your tastebuds and shopping desires, by browsing through the Slow Food Market, which will host the Stellenbosch Fresh Goods Market, Willowbridge Slowmarket, and the Great Wine Sale where you can purchase top local wines at bargain prices.

The Little Cooks Club is a fun, educational, hands-on cooking programme designed especially for moms and younger kids. More advanced classes for 7-15 year olds teach budding chefs all about food and food preparation, as well as cake decorating.

Let your imagination run wild, and let your tastebuds guide you through the gastronomic journey which awaits you at this year’s Winter Good Food and Wine Show.

April is an exciting month in Cape Town. Visitors flock to the region after the Easter holidays – the ‘off season’, when Autumn’s colours light up the region, days are pleasantly temperature and the evenings cool.

For the ‘off season’, there are a lot of interesting events in Cape Town during the long weekend at the end of April. 27 April is Freedom Day so, why not celebrate our great country’s freedom and celebrate, by indulging in what Cape Town has to offer on the entertainment front over this long weekend?

The Great Moscow Circus is visiting the Mother City from 16 April to 27 May 2010, at the Grand Arena, GrandWest, in Goodwood.  Mesmerizing and sensational, each performance is sure to keep you riveted. Aerobic, juggling and acrobatic feats, clowns and trapeze artists are set to entertain you, alongwith contortionists and tight-rope walkers. No animal acts are featured in this circus show and special discounted tickets are on sale for children and pensioners. Tickets are available on Computicket.

Catch “Unforgettable” –  Nat King Cole’s inspirational life story, from the 14 April to 10 May 2010. Weaving the story of his life into a whirlwind of his music and song, “Unforgettable” takes you on a journey through Nat King Cole’s life, from his early beginnings to his global fame. Catch this show, which lasts just over two hours, at the Theatre on the Bay, in Camps Bay.

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is proud to host the “Time on our Hands” exhibition, in collaboration with award-winning artist Chris Swift and ten young artists from the Michaelis School of Art. This exhibition, which focuses on the socio-political landscape in Cape Town, is part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Nelson Mandela’s prison release. This cultural and history-rich exhibition will feature works of art constructed from the original fencing material from Robben Island’s prison towers and will include a range of ‘under construction’ sculptures and pieces for art lovers to enjoy. Running from 06 to 27 April 2010, you’ll find this free exhibition at Portswood Close at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.

The largest biennale art exhibition in South Africa, showcasing over 100 artists, the Spier Contemporary 2010, was launched at the Cape Town City Hall on 14 March 2010, and will remain open until 14 May 2010. The Spier Contemporary exhibition was conceived to provide an open platform for all artists to show their work, uncompromised by the limitations of technology, space and access. Artists in South Africa work under extremely varied conditions and see from radically different perspectives. These differences are what define our collective identity and unique social and cultural landscape. The Spier Contemporary provides a space for exploring our diversity, giving audiences insights into our complexity and thus contributing to our understanding of difference. Call 086 011 1458 for more information.

After a very successful 4th International Summer Music Festival in January and February, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is back with their Autumn Symphony Season on 01 April 2010 – one that features an exciting line-up of artists and a mouth-watering range of works on the programme. With seven concerts, four conductors and excellent local and foreign soloists, this season is set to be a stunning symphony show. Runninng until 13 May 2010, at the Cape Town City Hall, tickets cost between R60 and R165 per person. Please visit the  CPO website for more information.

Grease – The Musical has hit Cape Town in an electrifying way. Featuring an all-South African cast, and presented by Pieter Toerien, Paul Nicholas and David Ian, it’s the original high school musical and features all the unforgettable songs from the movie, including You’re The One That I Want; Grease Is The Word; Summer Nights; Hopelessly Devoted To You; Sandy; and Greased Lightnin’. Voted the ‘No 1 Greatest Musical’, Grease has proved that a musical love story bursting with denim, cheerleaders, slick hairstyles, rock’n’roll, teenage angst, and young romance is timeless and universal. Running from 06 March to 13 June 2010, at the Artscape Theatre, this show is, quite simply, not to be missed. Please visit the Musical’s website for more information.

During this long weekend, don’t stay in and hibernate! Go out and celebrate!

The Hermanus Sea Rescue Music Festival is a one day festival, to be held at the Hermanus New Harbour on 24 April 2010. In aid of the NSRI of Hermanus, this festival will keep you entertained by artists including Emo Adams, Theuns Jordaan, Sarah Theron, Cheree and others while your bellies will be filled with food an drink from various stalls. Tickets are R120 for adults and R60 for children under 12. Tickets are available from the NSRI stall at Market Square or on www.nrsi17.co.za Be sure to join in the fun and support an excellent cause!  All funds raised will go towards the local National Sea Rescue Institute – Station 17.

Hermanus, famous for its fresh air, friendly locals and whale-watching opportunities, is situated on the South Coast only 120km from Cape Town. Originally a fishing village, Hermanus now has a wide variety of activities to offer, ranging from quiet, relaxed days on beaches or benches to hikes and sporting activities. Hermanus has become a popular hide-away for city dwellers seeking a weekend break.

Why not make a weekend of it, and enjoy the Hermanus Sea Rescue Music Festival and explore Hermanus?

Marine Drive 108

Marine Drive 108, in Sandbaai is a beautiful property situated right on the seafront. With six en-suite bedrooms, five in the house and a self-contained flatlet, this self catering villa can accommodate up to twelve people. Relax in the large upstairs, open-plan living area, with phenomenal views over Walker Bay. This living area opens up with stack-away doors to a wrap around deck with built-in seating. Enjoy exceptional attention to detail in this stylishly appointed home.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach is situated on the secure, quiet and private estate of Sandown Bay. A double storey holiday home with uninterrupted views from both upper and lower rooms, all the bedrooms have full size glass doors opening onto a balcony. Accommodating up to eight people, the main level of the house features an en-suite main bedroom, with king-sized bed and jacuzzi-sized bath. The lowel level offers two bedrooms, with queen-sized beds and one bedroom with two single beds, and an outside shower.

Head out to Hermanus, support a good cause and relax.

One of Cape Town’s unique contributions to the promotion of local arts and crafts, is the wide variety of craft markets in the region. Craft markets are mostly open on weekends and public holidays, and always boast a diverse range of local goods, produce and handicraft.

The Waterfront Craft Market offers a wide range of hand-crafted products which boast a high standard of quality and attention to detail.Over 120 stalls boast handmade goods proudly made in South Africa – from traditional Ndebele beadwork and recycled paper jewellery, to the bright African colours of finely detailed skirts, robes and throws. Embroidery classes, collectors’ teddy bears and wonders in wood turning are also showcased, alongwith a wide range of interior furnishings. Meet talented fine artists and select from miniature watercolors, vibrant pastels, deeply textured oils or comic caricatures and breathtaking Cape landscapes. The Waterfront Craft Market is the flagship of micro business development at the V&A Waterfront and is the largest indoor art and craft market in South Africa. A recent addition to the Craft Market, is the Waterfront Wellness Centre. Offering holistic lifestyle products and treatments, it is a vibrant and vital aspect of the Craft Market. Those with a passion for self healing, natural and intuitive  guidance in matters of physical and spiritual health and well-being will find an abundance of positive energy radiating from the group of wellness practitioners offering reflexology, Indian head massage, shiatsu, aromatherapy massage and the new locally developed all-African Vunkuwa massage technique are showcased and offered at the Wellness Centre.

The Constantia Craft Market is held on the Alphen Common opposite the Constantia Village Shopping Centre. This elite market is set in an environmental parkland in the heart of Constantia. Craftsmen and women echo the beauty of the land in the handmade goods they sell. Held on the third Saturday of every month, with over a hundred little stalls and shops, the Constantia Craft Market prides itself on its variety and atmosphere. Credit card facilities, refreshments and clean restrooms compliment this wheelchair-friendly market.

A long-standing craft market held on the second Saturday of every month, Craft in the Park is held in Rondebosch Park, on the corner of Campground and Sandown Roads. This craft market provides you with a relaxing way to spend a Saturday morning, browsing stalls of hand-made goods and breakfasting under the park’s lovely trees. Craft stalls galore, and an abundance of treats and eats await you.

Situated in the car park outside the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is one the largest markets you will find in Cape Town. The Green Point Stadium Craft Market runs every Sunday and Public Holiday and is constantly abuzz with people, music and crafts. You will find loads of traditional African art pieces, curios, books and music. The Green Point Stadium promises a true craft market experience, with live entertainment to keep you entertained if you want to rest your feet.

The Kirstenbosch Craft Market takes place in the grounds of the Cottages, on corner Kirstenbosch Drive and Rhodes Avenue, diagonally opposite the main entrance to Kirstenbosch Gardens. Just under two hundred crafters host stalls at this market, selling various hand-crafted goods. Also on offer are a large variety of refreshments and there are even pony rides for children. There’s the Visitors’ Centre Shop that sells a wide range of gifts and curios, clothing and homeware.  Proceeds from stall rentals go to the Development Fund for Kirstenbosch Gardens. This market takes place on the last Sunday of the month, except for closing in June, July and August (winter) and in December when the market takes place on two Sundays.